Government Schemes
Government Schemes is one of the two topics of the Current Affairs section of the ADRE 3.0 Grade IV General Knowledge and Assam GK paper. The topic covers the important welfare and development schemes launched by the Government of India and, even more importantly for this examination, by the Government of Assam. A scheme question usually asks for the purpose of a scheme, the ministry or department that runs it, the group of people it is meant for, or the benefits it gives. Because the paper is a state recruitment examination, the examiner pays special attention to the schemes of the Assam government and to the central schemes that have been implemented in Assam. Learning the schemes in a systematic, category-wise manner makes this topic one of the easiest sources of marks in the whole paper.
Meaning of the Topic
A government scheme is an organised programme started by a government to solve a problem or to improve the condition of a group of people. A scheme has a name, an aim, a target group and a set of benefits. Some schemes are run by the central government all over the country, some are run by the state government within the state, and some are jointly funded and run by both. In an examination the candidate is expected to know the name of the scheme, what it does, for whom it is meant and who runs it.
Main Categories of Schemes
- Agriculture and farmer welfare, such as income support, crop insurance and irrigation schemes.
- Women and child development, such as maternity benefit, nutrition and girl-child schemes.
- Education and skill development, such as scholarships, school meals and vocational training.
- Health and nutrition, such as health insurance and free treatment schemes.
- Employment and livelihood, such as rural employment guarantee and self-employment schemes.
- Housing and basic amenities, such as housing, drinking water, electricity and sanitation schemes.
- Social security and pensions for the aged, widows and the disabled.
- Financial inclusion, such as bank accounts, insurance and easy credit for the poor.
- Infrastructure and connectivity, such as roads, bridges and rural internet schemes.
- Assam-specific welfare schemes for farmers, women, students and the weaker sections.
Types of Questions Asked
Most questions are objective with four options. One common form gives the name of a scheme and asks for its purpose or its target group. Another form describes a benefit and asks which scheme provides it. A third form asks which level of government runs a particular scheme, or which year it was started. Some questions give the full form of a scheme's short name or ask for the ministry in charge. A few are matching questions where a list of schemes is to be matched with a list of benefits or departments.
How to Study the Schemes
- Divide the schemes into categories such as agriculture, women, health and employment.
- For each scheme note the name, the aim, the target group and the department.
- Mark clearly whether the scheme is central, state or jointly run.
- Give extra attention to the schemes of the Assam government.
- Revise the list category by category instead of scheme by scheme.
How the Topic Appears in the Examination
Government schemes normally appears as a small group of objective questions carrying one mark each. The questions are direct and can be answered quickly by a candidate who remembers the scheme. Since a scheme has a clear name, aim and benefit, it can be learned and recalled more easily than a date or a number, which makes this topic a reliable source of marks. A candidate who prepares the schemes of Assam along with the major central schemes is rarely troubled by this part of the paper.
Memory Tips
Remember each scheme by the group of people it serves, because the target group is the strongest clue to the scheme's name and aim. Make a table with four columns, one each for the name, the aim, the target group and the department, and revise from this table. Learn the short forms and the full forms together, since questions are asked from both. Pay special attention to schemes whose names are similar, and note the one word or the one benefit that separates them. A quick revision of the table before the examination is enough for most candidates.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Confusing central schemes with state schemes.
- Mixing up two schemes that have similar names or similar benefits.
- Forgetting the target group of a scheme and remembering only its name.
- Ignoring the schemes of the Assam government.
- Learning the short form without knowing what it stands for.
Additional Points to Remember
For every scheme, keep in mind four simple facts: who started it, who benefits from it, what benefit it gives, and which department runs it. These four facts are enough to answer almost any question on the scheme. For Assam schemes, also note whether the scheme is meant for the whole state or for a particular district or community. When a scheme is newly announced, note the year of its announcement and, if possible, the number of people it aims to cover.
Advanced Tips
When two schemes look alike, write down their single point of difference in one line, because that difference is often the exact point tested. Group the schemes of Assam separately in your notes so that they are revised on their own before the examination. Learn the full forms of the important short names, since a question may ask either the short form from the full form or the reverse. If a scheme has been renamed, remember the new name and, if you can, the old name as well. Finally, revise the schemes together with current affairs, because a newly announced scheme usually appears in both topics.
Related Topics
Government schemes is closely related to current affairs and to the social studies part of the paper. Many schemes are launched or expanded during the period covered by current affairs, so the two topics overlap. Some schemes are also connected with the Constitution and with the administration of the state, and a few relate to geography, such as irrigation and rural roads. Studying the schemes together with these topics gives a connected understanding and reduces the burden of separate preparation.
Quick Revision Checklist
- Divide the schemes into categories such as agriculture, women and health.
- Note the name, aim, target group and department of each scheme.
- Mark whether a scheme is central, state or jointly run.
- Give extra weight to the schemes of Assam.
- Learn the full forms of the important short names.
- Revise the schemes category by category before the examination.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does a government scheme question ask?
It usually asks for the purpose, the target group, the benefit or the department of a scheme, or which level of government runs it.
Are state schemes more important than central schemes?
Both are asked, but in a state examination the schemes of the Assam government are given special attention, so do not ignore them.
How should I remember so many schemes?
Group them by category and remember four facts for each, namely who started it, who benefits, what benefit it gives and who runs it.
Should I learn the short forms of the schemes?
Yes. Learn the short form and the full form together, because questions may be asked from either side.
How much time does this topic take to prepare?
With a good table of schemes, this topic can be revised quickly, and it becomes one of the easiest sources of marks in the paper.